The Minister made a reply to these criticisms in Wellington last week. ``The information in the hands of the departments,'' said Mr Russell ``clearly indicates that it is not desirable that opossums should be liberated in fruit districts. They are, however, capable of being made a most valuable asset in bush districts. Not only is the skin of the opossum a marketable commodity, but it is one of considerable value, ranging from 14s to 21s, and there is an assured market for these skins. If liberated in the back-blocks districts they are likely to prove a welcome source of income to the bush settler in the earlier days of his occupation. The information we have is that these opossums do not injure grasses or feed that is required for stock, as they live upon shoots and leaves of trees. In one bush district in the South Island 60,000 worth of skins were obtained in one year. Provided the animals are confined to bush districts, there seems to me to be no reason whatever why they should not be extensively distributed throughout the North Island.''
A fisherman, using a seine net, yesterday morning landed an English turbot. The fish is now on view in Mr Trainor's shop in the Arcade. It is 13in long, 11in wide, and 2in deep at its thickest part, and is the first turbot to be caught on the New Zealand coasts. Mr G. M. Thomson states that it is now three years and a half since some 190 small English turbot were imported from England and placed in the Portobello Fish Hatchery. Shortly after their arrival about six of them, which were not looking too well, were given their liberty in the harbour, and Mr Thomson considers that is one of these that has now been caught. A little over two months ago, a big proportion of the remaining fish were taken from the hatchery and liberated about 60 miles south of the Heads. Several of these latter were up to 18in in length. Mr Thomson says the fishermen who catch any turbot should return them to the water. By doing so they would be giving them every chance to increase and actually improving their own prospects of securing hauls later on.
To illustrate the isolation which the early pioneers of New Zealand experienced, it is mentioned in the course of a very interesting paper on ``Old Hawke's Bay'', read before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Society by Mr W. Dinwiddie, that in 1849 Mr F. J. Tiffen brought a flock of sheep to graze at a remote inland run. For nearly three years Mr Tiffen lived there almost alone, his nearest neighbour being the Rev. W. Colenso, of the Waitangi Mission Station, 25 miles distant. To the southward the nearest Europeans were at Castlepoint, 70 miles away. When Mr Tiffen was called to Wellington to give evidence at the trial of a man called Good for murder, he had to walk 340 miles, and carry both food and blankets with him. Yet this hardship he eagerly undertook as a welcome change, having seen no European men and no women for nearly two years.
Mr Murdoch Tosh, a farmer on the Kaitangata road, appeared at the Stirling Dairy Factory on Wednesday morning with his eight milk cans neatly packed aboard a motor lorry, which was really a converted motor car (says the Balclutha Free Press). The other suppliers who were present were so taken with the appearance and utility of Mr Tosh's new vehicle that they lined up and gave him a hearty cheer. He is the first of the Stirling suppliers to adopt the motor for delivery purposes. - ODT, 27.9.1916.
Copies of picture available from ODT front office lower Stuart St, or www.otagimages.co.nz
